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Partly Cloudy Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor Junior Ambassadors host first 2024 event
Saving the planet one kid at a time
In a bid to instill a sense of environmental stewardship in the younger generation, the Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor has successfully launched its Junior Ambassadors Program.
This initiative, which began its journey last August, has seen a surge in interest from local youths eager to make a positive impact on the environment.
Lisa Cashman, associate director of the coalition, said the idea of the Ambassadors Program had been brewing for quite some time gaining momentum two years ago during the Summer Fest.
“We started with a soft launch and received an overwhelming response from the community,” Cashman said. “Kids were eager to join, so we decided to let them take the lead.”
The program officially launched in August with an introductory meeting that drew around 30 kids, ranging from ages 5 to 18.
Michelle Lapinel McAllister, who oversees the ambassador program for the coalition, emphasized the program’s inclusivity, stating that it is open to a diverse age group, allowing even the youngest participants to engage with the ecosystem.
“The idea is to empower kids so that they can in turn share that knowledge with others,” McAllister said. “Ideally, we’d like to see all the kids that are around Hempstead Harbor engaging with (the organization) in some meaningful way.”
The program is structured to have seasonal meetings, each focusing on a specific aspect of environmental awareness. Their first event of the year is an upcoming winter meeting dedicated to discussing local wildlife, featuring a presentation by the Wildlife Center of Long Island. The event will be held Feb. 6 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at St. Luke’s Parish Hall at 253 Glen Avenue in Sea Cliff.
Cashman and McAllister encouraged community members to attend and support the initiative and the center by making a suggested donation of $15, stressing that no one would be turned away due to financial constraints.
“We wanted to bring an educational and stewardship component to kids who were already interacting with Hempstead Harbor,” McAllister added. “The goal is to empower them to act responsibly and make a positive impact.”
The day-to-day operations of the program involve collaboration with the elected officers, who actively participate in organizing events and contributing to outreach efforts. McAllister emphasized their role in creating the plan for the year, collaborating on publications, and reaching out to local organizations like the Boys and Girls Club.
The program boasts roughly 20 registered participants with three ambassadors, all of whom are eighth graders in the school district. Stella Cashman, 13, serves as the president alongside Anne Kelly, 14, as secretary and Kyle Wong, 13, is treasurer.
Cashman, driven by her passion for the environment, took the initiative to revive the program after noticing its absence. With the help of friends, including Kelly and Wong, they developed a comprehensive plan and presented it to the coalition’s board.
“I knew they had planned a Junior Ambassadors program before because I was on the mailing list,” Cashman said. “So one day I was like, ‘What happened to that?’ I decided to do something about it because I was told that it was probably not going to happen.”
“We got together with Kyle and started thinking about it and it all came together,” Kelly said. “We did a lot of planning and brainstorming of like the different groups of kids and events and the structure.”
The officers handle outreach events, send out flyers, and even set up a table at local venues to promote the initiative. The February Winter Event is expected to draw a significant crowd as the Wildlife Center of Long Island presents an educational session on local animals and the ecosystem.
Looking to the future, the Junior Ambassadors Program envisions regular seasonal meetings, a loyal group of engaged members, and increased environmental awareness. With kids at the helm, this program is fostering a new generation of environmentally conscious citizens dedicated to preserving the beauty of Hempstead Harbor.
To join or find out more about the Junior Ambassadors program, email juniors@thecshh.org. For more information on the coalition itself, visit CoalitionToSaveHempsteadHarbor.org.
